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We decided against any invasive tests like amniocentesis, but I’d heard about a new blood test which could determine your risk factor. I rang the Down’s Syndrome Association to find out more, but unfortunately they explained that if you already had a child with Down’s Syndrome then your risk factor would come out high anyway. I was so disappointed. I really needed some reassurance that this pregnancy would be OK. I remember going upstairs and kneeling by my bed and praying for help. Within a couple of hours there was a knock at the door; it was my midwife. She said “I know we haven’t got an appointment but I felt I should come and see you”. I explained about the blood test and how disappointed I was. She said that a doctor at one of the London hospitals was carrying out a new scan called a Nuchal scan which could detect any of the possible markers that a Down’s Syndrome baby may have. She referred us and I had the scan at five months; the doctor was 98% certain that there were no problems and that we were having a boy. An added bonus as we do tend to have girls in our family. To this day that remains the most amazing answer to prayer. Despite you and the girls (and later Tom) becoming very involved with Trinity, it took quite some time for Lawrence to develop a faith in Jesus. Can you tell us a bit about that process? Lawrence did come along to a few services but he wasn’t comfortable and even walked out of a holiday club service. He was quite happy for the rest of us to come along, after all it gave him a peaceful Sunday morning. It’s hard when your partner doesn’t come to church; you feel a little isolated and I missed coming to any social events because I didn’t want to come on my own. I continued to pray for him but as the years went on I began to think that it would never happen. But after about 14 years Lawrence was very unsettled and started searching - Buddhism, self-help the Power of You, more or less everything else apart from Christianity. Thankfully he didn’t find what he was looking for and somehow we began to have more God discussions. I remember one day he read in the newspaper about a book that was in the New York Times top ten. That book was ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren and he ordered a copy for me. I found it a very powerful book and although Lawrence didn’t want to read it himself he was happy for me to tell him about it. It was at this time as well when ‘The Passion of Christ’ was on at the cinemas and we went together to see it.
One day Lawrence was sitting on the stairs in someone’s house where he was working, probably having a cup of tea! He had this sudden realisation ‘God is real’. He told me about it when he came home and I persuaded him to go and chat with Geoff. He started coming to church and joined the Alpha group with Mike Brooks, Shane Hannam and Carrie Maynard. Can you tell us a little about what has happened since? Megan is now 25 years old and we wouldn’t change a thing; she has been and continues to be such a blessing. We have prayed about every decision we have had to make about her health, her schooling and her life. Without exception answers have been given and doors opened. She has been given amazing opportunities - singing and performing, horse riding at The Special Olympics and more recently a home in Brighton where she lives fully supported with her own friends. People say that the Christian life is a journey and I would agree. Sometimes the road ahead is very clear, but often it’s not. There have been times I’ve wandered down the wrong path, looked around and thought what am I doing here - when life throws difficult things at you like illness or the death of loved ones that you can’t understand. Those are the times when you just have to stand still and wait while Jesus supports you. Like when you are in a storm sometimes it’s best not to fight it but just stand still and wait it out until the storm passes. And finally can you tell us one of your favourite hymns/worship songs and why it is special to you? My taste in music is quite varied. I like the modern worship songs and I also love singing along to hymns. Just recently a song comes to mind often when I am thinking and praying. ‘Jesus, We Enthrone You’. I’ll try to explain what the first lines of this song mean to me. Jesus, we enthrone You, we proclaim You our King – Jesus I proclaim You as King, You are Lord of my Life. Standing here in the midst of us – You are not sitting on a throne in the distance. You lived on this earth and you understand all the joys and the sorrows. You stand with me. We lift you up with our praise – Because of this no matter what I am going through I can praise you. Angie
Page 1 and 2: Happy Christmas December 2015 / Jan
Page 3 and 4: What! Was that a Cracker I Heard Be
Page 5 and 6: Christmas Services and Events Satur
Page 7 and 8: Geoff is “Sitting Down”, Who Wi
Page 9 and 10: Roundabout Pre-School Christmas Cel
Page 11 and 12: Trinity New Build Team - a Final Re
Page 13 and 14: AV Presentations During Services As
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Page 17 and 18: 'Joseph' - a reflection It has been
Page 19 and 20: ‘Rhythm of Mission’ Training fo
Page 21 and 22: Forest Row Lifeboat Choir Forest Ro
Page 23 and 24: Retreat Programme Spring 2016 At Da
Page 25 and 26: Trinity Groups Kaleidoscope Kaleido
Page 27: Megan also seemed to be very sick.
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Page 33 and 34: On the Wildside December 2015 Weapo
Page 35 and 36: Services for January 2016 Sunday 03

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